Hello All, I went to a CAT Scale today and I need some help interpreting the the results. Can someone take a look at these and let me know if I'm ok or not??
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Tiffin Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,131
Need to know the ratings of your tow vehicle before anyone can tell you if you’re ok or not. What does the sticker in the drivers door frame say?
GVWR, GAWR front and rear, GCWR numbers are needed.
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2022 Coach House 271
2017 Jeep Wrangler
If the tow vehicle in question is in your signature, then you are golden. You are well under the maximum RGAWR of a 3500 series truck. You did transfer about 350 lbs off the front axle, which might affect the handling a little bit. If it makes the front end feel a little light, a weight distribution hitch can help transfer some load back onto the front axle.
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2000 Ford F250 7.3 diesel 6 speed manual (slow but gets us there)
2005 Skyline Aljo 225LT
It took a minute and I could only find generic ratings for the truck front axle and for the trailer axles. My trailer has torqueflex five lug axles that are rated at 4,000 lbs each by Forest River and 4400 lbs each by the axle manufacturer. Generally trailer 5 lug axles are 3500 lb rated.
Also you do not say if your weight with the trailer is with weight distribution hooked up or not hooked up so tongue weight may or may not be precise.
I thought you might like to see the numbers as I was able to calculate them.
You are under all ratings. Some believe in leaving 20% of ratings as a safety margin. I am not one of those. I have driven semi trucks and class 7 trucks for many years as well as 55 years using various pickups to haul 8'-18' flatbed trailers, several cargo trailers, multiple u-hauls and campers ranging from 16' - current 35' bumper pull. The weight ratings on the commercial trucks all have a safety margin already built in. I believe the ratings on pickups and such also have that margin figured by the engineers.
Looks to me like you are in fine shape.
Dave / Believer45
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2013 Forest River Rockwood Windjammer 3008W
2011 Ram 2500 SLT Cummins 6.7 auto rear wheel drive.
Here's a funny- I've been aware of CAT scales for many years. I took another look at the OP's weigh sheet, and I was today years old when I learned that CAT stands for Certified Automated Truck Scale!
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2000 Ford F250 7.3 diesel 6 speed manual (slow but gets us there)
2005 Skyline Aljo 225LT
Here's a funny- I've been aware of CAT scales for many years. I took another look at the OP's weigh sheet, and I was today years old when I learned that CAT stands for Certified Automated Truck Scale!
I started driving a truck Dec 15 of 1974. Today I learned what CAT stands for. Thanks wff255 - you proved it is possible to teach an old goat a thing or two.
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2013 Forest River Rockwood Windjammer 3008W
2011 Ram 2500 SLT Cummins 6.7 auto rear wheel drive.
Tiffin Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,131
Quote:
Originally Posted by Believer45
You are under all ratings. Some believe in leaving 20% of ratings as a safety margin. I am not one of those. I have driven semi trucks and class 7 trucks for many years as well as 55 years using various pickups to haul 8'-18' flatbed trailers, several cargo trailers, multiple u-hauls and campers ranging from 16' - current 35' bumper pull. The weight ratings on the commercial trucks all have a safety margin already built in. I believe the ratings on pickups and such also have that margin figured by the engineers.
Looks to me like you are in fine shape.
Dave / Believer45
Agree with Believer45. As an engineer, I can say that NOTHING is designed without a margin or safety factor built in. How large that margin is will depend greatly on the application. Those who leave a 20% margin on top of what is designed in aren't hurting anything. They are probably guaranteeing longevity in their vehicles by not stressing them as hard as those of us who will use it up to the OEM ratings.
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2022 Coach House 271
2017 Jeep Wrangler
I appreciate everyone's comments and this confirms what I thought that this setup is A-OK.
I do have a follow up question though...since I have reduced the steer axle weight by 340 lbs and i am using The Anderson WDH (Chains)...would I tighten the nuts to put more weight forward?
I appreciate everyone's comments and this confirms what I thought that this setup is A-OK.
I do have a follow up question though...since I have reduced the steer axle weight by 340 lbs and i am using The Anderson WDH (Chains)...would I tighten the nuts to put more weight forward?
I've got the Anderseon hitch as well, and yes you could tighten the nuts a bit more to put more weight forward.
Basically what you want to do is pick a point on the tow vehicle, say top of the rear wheel well, and measure from that point to the ground. The hitch the trailer up and tighten the chains to get pretty close to that same measurement again.
I've got the Anderseon hitch as well, and yes you could tighten the nuts a bit more to put more weight forward.
Basically what you want to do is pick a point on the tow vehicle, say top of the rear wheel well, and measure from that point to the ground. The hitch the trailer up and tighten the chains to get pretty close to that same measurement again.
I just was looking at my numbers again and noticed something about my tongue weight.
1st Question: To calculate tongue I would take the rear axle weight with the trailer attached and minus the rear axle weight of the truck alone...correct? if so my tongue weight is 1560 lbs.
This being the case, I would be over on max tongue rating on my truck by 110 lbs.
So.....I would have to remove some weight out of my trailer as I have a lot of leeway there...
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